Top positive review

Chris Thile is a wunderkind...one of the most flawlessy perfect instrumentalist alive...his Bluegrass and Fusion stuff is astonishing...however, the Bach is very one-dimensional, I think largely because of the material, it's rhythmically homogenous for a large part of the record, and as such can get a bit monotonous...

Top critical review

Sid Nuncius is completely correct in saying that this lacks the emotional depth of a really good violin performance. And whilst it might be pleasant to listen to one or two tracks as a kind of "wow, he's a good player, I didn't realise you could play Bach on the mandolin" kind of experience, a whole album is a bit much. I know everyone thinks Thile is amazing, but I find his music and playing a bit boring. The problem with so-called 'virtuoso' players is that everything can become an exercise in technical expertise, and ultimately the music can take second place to the ego of the performer: I think that this has happened here.

Also, let's remember that this is nothing new - it's just that someone quite famous has done it. Mike Marshall (whose music is much better and more interesting than Thile's) has played Bach on the mandolin for years, and even published a book of arrangements of Bach's Partitas and Sonatas for mandolin some time ago. Marshall is a wonderful musician, possibly my favourite American mandolin player (although it's hard to beat a mid-to-late 1970s David Grisman).

And let's not forget the amazing Simon Mayor, who is a brilliant mandolin player, and has been including lots of classical content into his music right from The Mandolin Album in 1990. Mayor's playing is absolutely first rate - the music always shines through. And his mandolin tutor books have helped many aspiring players to learn the instrument.

Ultimately I'm sure that lots of people will purchase Thile's Bach album, but I doubt that it will get many repeat plays, even from mandolin players. Watch him play a few Bach tunes on YouTube first, and then decide if you really need a whole album's worth.

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Chris Thile is a wunderkind...one of the most flawlessy perfect instrumentalist alive...his Bluegrass and Fusion stuff is astonishing...however, the Bach is very one-dimensional, I think largely because of the material, it's rhythmically homogenous for a large part of the record, and as such can get a bit monotonous...

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Chris Thile is a master of the Mandolin and his incredible playing is shown off her to an astonishing degree. I have these pieces both for violin and guitar and have always loved them. These versions are every bit as beautiful and really recommended if you are a Bach fan.

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I am not a classica music buff, my interest in this album is a result of my love mandolin and Thile's paying on other recordings. I have bought other CDs on the basis that they feature mandoin and have given them very little play time, but this one is different. My own taste is bue grass and American roots music but this album is just stunning. I have istened to it four times in two days and it has just grown on me with every play.Unlike so many classical musicians Thile sticks to his Loar Gibson which immediately brings a distinctive sound that will be familiar to blue grass fans. I would dare to say that Thile has a recognisable style of playing which is evident here despite the repetoire. There may be classical experts who can spot divergence from traditional or accepted ways of playing these pieces, but as someone who didn't previously know them I found his interpretation beautiful. Put simpy, there is nothign I could find to criticise about these recordings, they are moving, inspiring, full of emotion and leave this listener with a desire for more. I'm already looking forward to the next volume.

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